Los Angeles Kings vs Philadelphia Flyers Betting Picks

Los Angeles has alternated wins and losses for 10 games, but it's time for the Kings to win two straight as they return home from a five-game trip capped by a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers on Monday. Darcy Kuemper stopped 21 of 22 shots and he is likely to start tonight. He is 17-13-10 with a 2.64 goals-against average, and Keumper had 19 saves when the Kings beat the Flyers 3-2 in overtime on Jan. 31 in the only meeting this season. Los Angeles has won five of the past six meetings. The Kings have stayed UNDER in 14 of 20 games against Eastern Conference rivals, and Philadelphia has stayed UNDER in 12 of its past 14 games overall, including its past four in a row. The Flyers are coming off an overtime win last night, where Dan Vladar got the dub, so Samuel Ersson is probable vs. LA. Ersson is 10-9-5 with a 3.27 GAA. I like the Kings to earn a victory, and I'm playing the UNDER as my best bet. 

The upcoming Olympic break can't come soon enough for the Flyers. Philadelphia has lost 10 of its last 12 games. The Flyers have been outscored 55-31 during this span. The Flyers are allowing an average of 4.6 goals per game over their past five games, going 1-4 in that stretch. Philadelphia is returning home following Wednesday and Thursday road losses to the Bruins, 6-3, and Blue Jackets, 5-3. Home cooking has not helped the Flyers. They have lost five consecutive home games, scoring only seven goals in these contests. The Kings have been excellent on the road, going 14-7-6. LA is 3-1 in its last four games. The Kings rank fourth defensively, permitting 2.7 goals a game. The Flyers rank last on the power play and are 21st defensively. Take the Kings.

Los Angeles has winning records both home and away. They also have a +15 scoring differential, the fourth-best in the Western Conference. The Kings have won seven of nine, including wins at the Islanders (3-1) and Rangers (5-1) on this road trip. The team ranks 12th offensively in shooting percentage while the defense is No. 1 in the NHL in goals allowed (2.52 per game) and 10th in penalty killing. Philadelphia is in a bad situational spot coming home from a two-game road trip playing last night in Detroit. They lost both games on the trek, 4-1 and 6-4. The offense is 20th in goals scored and 26th on the power play, while the defense is 27th in goals allowed and 31st in save percentage. Play Los Angeles.